After dealing with months of snow, sleet and cold temperatures, Memorial Day weekend gives us three days to celebrate the impending summertime with family and friends.

For Memorial Day weekend we are kicking off our popular Live Bluegrass Weekends. The concert series is always on the last Saturday and Sunday of the month from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m, plus the weekend after Independence Day. Bring your own lawn chairs and enjoy the FREE show! The schedule is always subject to change.

Live Bluegrass Weekends schedule:

May 25: Ernie Bradley & The Grassy Ridge

May 26: Stoney Creek Bluegrass

June 29: Ernie Bradley & The Grassy Ridge

June 30: Ernie Bradley & The Grassy Ridge

July 6: Stoney Creek Bluegrass

July 7: Copper Canyon

July 27: Copper Canyon

July 28: Ernie Bradley & The Grassy Ridge

Aug. 24: Ernie Bradley & The Grassy Ridge

Aug. 25: Ernie Bradley & The Grassy Ridge

Sept. 28: Copper Canyon

Sept. 29: Copper Canyon

Oct. 26: Stoney Creek Bluegrass

Oct. 27: Ernie Bradley & The Grassy Ridge

While you’re here for Memorial Day, be sure to shop at our Farm Market where we have plenty of items to help you with your weekend festivities. We have fresh meat, fruits and more to add to any picnic spread.

Looking for that perfect dessert for your picnic? Don’t worry, we have you covered. Order your pie early by calling us at 304-263-1168. Click here for a list of pies.

Thank you for your service

Let’s also not forget what Memorial Day is about — remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. We would like to salute veterans both past and present for their service.

Here in Berkeley County, W.Va., the Martinsburg Rotary offers a traditional free pancake breakfast to benefit charitable donations from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at War Memorial Park, off Tennessee Avenue in Martinsburg. At 11 a.m. the Traditional Memorial Day Service will be at 11 a.m. at the park. This year it’s sponsored by the American Legion Post 14.

So stop in, enjoy some music and make sure to get those picnic supplies. We’re open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rich soil has a distinctive smell. It’s hard to describe if you’ve never smelled dirt before but it’s like smelling the Earth and everything that came before it.

In order to really smell the dirt, you need to get down close to it, close your eyes and inhale. That’s what life smells like in its purest sense. It’s what makes the plants grow that feed us.

That smell of soil also reminds us that we know exactly where our food is coming from. And when you come to Orr’s Farm Market, you know more than where your food is coming from — you see some of the faces behind it as well.

It’s that personal connection with our customers we love so much, and pick-your-own is about as personal experience as you can get. As you bend down to pick a berry, it’s you and nature at work.

We’ve done the hard work (with a little help from Mother Nature) for you so that you can enjoy knowing exactly how long it’s been since those berries were picked.

The experience, though, is different for everyone.

Some like to take their baskets out into the fields and go it alone, taking their time with each berry before plucking it from the bush or vine. They examine it carefully before placing into the basket before finding the next one that’s lucky enough to be taken home and put into the person’s famous pie.

There are some who think it’s an Olympic sport to see how many berries can be put into the basket in 10 minutes or less and race back to the counter.

Then there are some — usually families with young children — who see it as an adventure and on the hunt for some tasty berries.

Although we don’t encourage eating in the fields (because there would be a lot of empty baskets!), there is something about eating a berry right off the vine. Yum!

So if you’re looking to pick-your-own, come out to the market, we’ll give you a basket and set you free into our fields.

Strawberries – May 25 – June 14

Cherries — June – Mid-July

Blueberries — June – July

Blackberries — August through Mid-September

Black raspberries — Late June – Mid-July

Table grapes — August through September

So come and grab a basket and start picking! We’re open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

British horticulturist and writer Gertrude Jekyll once wrote, “A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.”

Isn’t that true too of a relationship between a mother and her children? With some constant care and tending it blooms into something wonderful.

This month we celebrate Mother’s Day, which lands on Sunday, May 12. We also celebrate the bounty the land has blessed us with.

If you’re looking for a gift for your mom, come to Orr’s Farm Market and shop from some of our wonderful products. We have plenty of things to put a smile on her face.

Is Mom a foodie? We have a variety of premade items that she’s bound to like — and better yet — something she doesn’t have to cook herself.

By late May, we’re expecting a crop of fresh strawberries grown here in Berkeley County. You can eat them plain, in a pie, or as strawberry shortcake. Strawberries are the perfect treat for these spring days.

Thinking of other fresh-from-the-garden items to try? How about:

Asparagus now through mid-June

Rhubarb now through mid-June

Large selection of fresh herbs

Hydroponic lettuce year-round

Stop by every week throughout the spring and summer for fresh from the garden goodness. We’re open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

https://orrsfarmmarket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Orrs-Asp.jpg540720edendesignhttps://orrsfarmmarket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Orrs_WebHeader_2017-1.pngedendesign2019-05-08 12:31:012019-05-08 12:31:01Grow a Little Love this Mother’s Day

We’re rolling in Clover here at Orr’s Farm Market — and we’re not talking about the plant.

As a way to make the entire experience even more enjoyable at the farm, we have added new Clover POS (Point of Sale) Systems at check-out. We have already included the new system at two registers and by summer all of the registers will be using the Clover system.

So what does that mean for you as a customer?

This new system allows us to take all forms of payment including chip cards and debit cards, which makes shopping easier. We will be able to continue to offer gift cards (a friendly reminder about gifts for birthdays or Mother’s Day coming up!).

What’s best for both our customers and for us is that Clover’s inventory system allows us to keep track of our biggest sellers so that we make sure to have the product you want in stock. It will also tell us what you aren’t buying, which allows us to make room in our market for the items you want more of!

As customers, you’ll be even more connected to us through knowing what specials and sales we’re having more often. The new Clover system allows us to add new coupons and even do multiple discounts. And isn’t that a win-win?

But here’s the secret about these discounts: They are only offered to our e-newsletter readers! To sign up, CLICK HERE, scroll down to Stay in Touch, enter your email address and hit submit. You’ll be instantly connected to us!

The new difference with the coupons is that you need to bring your coupon with you or show it to us on your smartphone in order to receive the discount. However, while we wait to launch our barcode coupons, we will give you a new code word to use for savings at the register. But you can only find that code in the newsletter!

And because we love the interaction with our customers, Clover gives us just one more way to receive feedback.

So that’s just another reason to come out and visit Orr’s Farm Market today! Our hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Farm life can be hard, but for all the blood, sweat and tears we put into the land, it rewards us with its bounty. As farmers, it’s our job to take care of the land, but we can’t do it alone.

Monday, April 22, is Earth Day, which reminds us to be kind to Mother Nature and she will be kind to us. In celebration of all what Earth has given us, we’ve come up with some tips to be a little greener this year. Don’t be overwhelmed. Just start out with one suggestion at a time.

Try at least one of these this year:

• Reduce, reuse, recycle. Try opting for a reusable water bottle instead of buying a plastic bottle. Recycle plastics so they don’t get into the landfill. Think creatively on re-using something instead of throwing it away.

• Bring a reusable bag when you shop. Looking for a cute bag? We have options at the market.

• Change your lightbulb. Make sure you have a more energy-efficient bulb that will last longer and not be a strain on your energy bill.

• Conserve water. On a farm, we know how valuable water can be for our crops, flowers and animals. Don’t let the faucet run while you’re doing dishes. Only do full loads of wash. Limit your time in the shower. And those leaky faucets? Fix them.

• Plant a tree. Trees are good for the environment. They help clean the air and save energy.

• Go paperless. It only take a few minutes to change your bills into e-bills, which will reduce the cost of using paper — and save some trees.

• Start a garden. Learn how important it is to get our hands into the dirt, and watch something grow from a seed. Encourage your children to help in order to make the next generation love the Earth as much as we do.

• Take a hike. Fall in love with nature again. Take a hike or bike on a trail. Plan a family day at a nearby park.

Be sure to come visit us, learn about what we do and shop a little. We’re open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Those who are looking for an alternative to sweets for the Easter basket, we have plenty of items available at the market. Try something nonfood items to add that special touch such as Hickory Homestead Handmade Soaps, Rocky Bottom Goats Milk Lotion or Primitive Glow WV Made Candles.

This year, Easter will be Sunday, April 21. So hop right into Orr’s Farm Market and help make the Easter Bunny’s life a little easier. We’ll be closed Easter Sunday to spend time with our family. But our normal hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Owner Mark Orr had always found bison herds intriguing. He said “You always remember the field where you saw a bison herd grazing.” He was definitely correct that the bison would be a big customer draw. People came from distances such as Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. just to catch a glimpse of our bison herd. What began as a group of 6 bison, has materialized into a herd of over 20 animals. Most of the females cows are pregnant with this spring’s babies…due to be born any day now.

Throughout the years we have offered many hayrides down to view the bison herds and customers have enjoyed feeding them apples. We also have processed bison meat products for our customers to purchase. It’s a very lean and healthy meat and has been extremely popular. Our animal attraction has been a nice addition to our farm.

When we purchased the bison we knew that they had an aggressive temperament, which is part of their breed. We’ve always been extremely careful when feeding them and taking wagons of guests down to our barnyard areas. However, as our farm grows more and more we’d like to remove the chance of anyone ever getting injured by these animals. The possibility is always in the back of our minds as we take the safety of our guests very seriously. Our family has made the decision to sell our herd and transform our barnyard into a more people-friendly animal experience. In order to bring in new animals, we have to sell the bison as they don’t take kindly to other creatures in their vicinity.

By April, the bison herd will be heading to a new home where the owner already has a thriving bison business. This farm has agreed to purchase the entire herd, which is another factor we felt was important. We wanted to see them leave as a group and not be separated from animals they have been with since birth.

National Pi Day, which combines the mathematical constant of π — or 3.14 — with a slice of delicious pie, is celebrated on March 14.

Although the concept has been around since 1988, Pi Day wasn’t officially recognized until 2009. So that means it’s been 10 years of ‘Pi-tastic’ eating, and we’re always looking for a good excuse to celebrate pie!

There’s something about pie that is nostalgic. It’s a dessert that’s eaten for all kinds of celebrations. It’s also versatile. It can be eaten cold or hot. It can be served with coffee, tea or milk. It can be topped with ice cream or whipped cream. It can be served on a plate or even in a bowl.

Pies are a favorite here at Orr’s Farm Market. Throughout the year we offer fresh seasonal fruits to make a scrumptious pie. Although it might be a couple of months before we get any fresh crops, we still have apples we picked this fall that have been waiting in cold storage and are perfectly ideal for a good apple pie.

If you’re too busy to make your own pie, we offer a variety of pies you can purchase at our market.

At Orr’s Farm Market, every day is Pie Day! Stop by our market to pick up your favorite pie or try one of our flavors. We’re open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 10am to 4 pm. We look forward to seeing you on the farm!

Many customers ask us every year what we do during the winter months. We love that customers are curious about the seasonal operations on our farm. The seasonality of the farm is definitely one of the reasons farming appeals to so many folks. The daily grind at most jobs just seems never-ending and after a few years, employees tend to feel stale. However, at Orr’s nothing ever stays static for long! Here’s some of the jobs going on in the farm market right now.

This winter we’ve been working on some indoor market projects. With our market addition going up right at the peak of harvest last year, there was a lot of organization that got placed on the back burner. Most people don’t realize just how difficult it is to change things mid-season. With a staff of about 50 people during the busy season…we have to have our work areas very organized and labeled so our seasonal staff can find items they need.

Staff training usually occurs this time of year as well. We attend yearly trainings on first aid, farm safety, tractor, forklift, and managing employees…just to name a few! Our supervisors have a lot of time to talk this time of year and discuss changes we’d like to see over the course of the year. Once the season moves to being open 7 days a week, we don’t all see each other as much as we’d like to discuss our ideas.

A new register (or Point of Sale) system has also been a very large project that we’ve been working on for over a year. This project took a year of research, a year of set up, and the past two months we’ve been learning how to checkout customers. We had purchased one machine to learn on and now we’re working on switching out all of our registers to the new models. This is a great job for the slow season, because we have to have time to make sure all of our products are set up correctly. So far we’re loving all of the options and reports this register provides. We’ll be able to have lots of fun with coupons and promotions once we get rolling!

Searching out fun new items we would like to carry, and placing orders is a big job from January through March. We have several new lines of garden items and décor coming in every week right now. All those items have to be entered into our new Clover Station and put up in the store. Even with the new space, it never feels like we have enough room! A few of the new products are WV made foods that we’re excited to bring into our market. Our staff goes out to other markets throughout the tri-state region looking for foods that we don’t already carry. I’m going to be posting some of these new items on our social media sites…so stay tuned!

Our staff love the slow season because they have more time to form relationships with you and your family. It’s nice to have time to stop and chat and find out what items you are loving. However, we feel the spring moving in on us soon, and we can’t wait to feel the sunshine on our shoulders. Hope to see you at the market soon!

https://orrsfarmmarket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/50428430_10156601942954475_770992864954941440_n.jpg720960Katy Orr-Dovehttps://orrsfarmmarket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Orrs_WebHeader_2017-1.pngKaty Orr-Dove2019-02-21 11:01:572019-02-26 18:00:14What Happens On A Farm In Winter? Part 1: The Market

Our newly added addition is giving us new opportunities for festive decorating and exciting holiday gifts. Usually we had to shrink our market space as the November weather hit because we were working under a tent, but not this year! The new space is allowing us to provide exciting local products throughout the winter that customers can pick up for holiday gifts. Customers can also browse inside for longer without the chill of the November winds knocking them over.

One of the new additions will be colorful Christmas trees all throughout our market. We’ll be using a number of popular themes to decorate the trees in the coming days. These ornaments make great gifts for friends or family members. Pets, Woodland Animals, Antique Trucks, and Farmhouse are just a few of the themes we have in mind for our winter décor.

Black Dog Coffee is also a good way to warm a cold November day! This new product for Orr’s has been a HUGE hit since we brought it into the store in August. Now that the weather is cooler we plan to expand to carry some of their chocolate covered espresso beans and similar products. Add this to one of our unique coffee mugs for a holiday gift for any coffee lover.

Gift baskets have long been one of our holiday specialties. The options are endless for mixing fresh fruit, baked goods, and the adorable gift items this season. I’m especially excited about the WV theme items we are carrying and we could make a really unique WV themed basket for any Mountaineer. You can find the options on our website under “Shop”.

We look forward to helping you find unique gifts for everyone on your list this year. Our hope is that the country feel of our market will help you unwind and enjoy your holiday a little bit more.